\n<\/p>\n
The warning signs were there. <\/b><\/p>\n
In the opening minute of his quarter-final bout, Orlando Holley-Sotomi caught his opponent with a couple of straight right hands. <\/p>\n
At 68 seconds, he unleashed another.<\/p>\n
The thunderous shot, followed by a left hook, sent Lesotho’s Refiloe Thai to the canvas. <\/p>\n
“Watching tape of my opponent, he was open to my backhand,” the Newport boxer said. <\/p>\n
“My backhand is one of my best shots so I didn’t hesitate, I just used it.”<\/p>\n
Knockouts of this brutality are rare in amateur boxing. ‘The General’ looked every bit the pro.<\/p>\n
After a tense silence when doctors rushed to his aid, Thai got to his feet to relieved applause from the gallery. <\/p>\n
When the referee lifted Orlando’s dangerous right hand in victory, it marked the end of a successful hour in Glasgow for Welsh boxing on Wednesday afternoon. <\/p>\n
Defending champion Rosie Eccles stopped Samukelisiwe Sinothile Ncube in the second round of the women’s 70kg before delaying her media duties to watch Owain Harris-Allan win unanimously on points against home favourite Nick Devlin. <\/p>\n
Eccles, Harris-Allan and Holley-Sotomi join super heavyweight Connor Williams in guaranteeing themselves a Commonwealth Games medal. In boxing, losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.<\/p>\n
So Friday, 30 July will see them seek to upgrade their medal colours ahead of finals the following day. <\/p>\n
Here are the four boxers chasing gold for Wales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n